The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-21
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.
Railroad Land DecisiOn-with.t rawals Re.
yoked-Heating Passenger Cara.


Chattanooga Railroad Company We. Nathaniel
p. Claburn, on appesl py the railroad COM
pany from the decision of the General
Land Office. The decision affirms that of
the Commissioner, and holds thSt a home
stead entry made in November, 1868, on
land included in indemnity of the grant
in aid OF plaintiffs road, mustlbe sustained
under the act of April 81, 1876 such en-
try having been made "by permission of
the land department" after ''the expiration
OF the grant" The act OF April 81, 1876,
is construed 10 mean that so far IS con-
Germs lands covered by entries, otherwise
regular, theprior actual expiration of tie
grant," (by lapse time) shall be deemed TO
have revoked the withdrawal" even
though such expiration may not have
been declared and insisted on as ground
of forfeiture. As to such lands, that is to
say, the act OF 1876 is itself the Legislative
proceeding" needed as the expression of
the will OF Congress that the forfeiture be
insisted on. The act of April 10, 1869,
"reviving and renewing" the grant, the
acting Secretary holds, does not prevent
the operation OF the act Of 1876, as the
act off. 1869 must be taken TO have been
made with reference to the state of things
existing at the date of its enactment.
Secretary Lamar today issued an order
directing that all lands heretofore with
drawn and held for indemnity purposes
undtr the grants to the following named
railroad companies be restored to public
domain and offered to settlement and en-
try under the general laws, after giving
the usual notice: South and North Ala
bama; Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central,
Pensacola and Georgia, aud Florida aud
Alabama, in Florida; Burlington and Mis-
souri, River; Chicago, Rock Island and Pa
cifc; Cedar Rapids and Missouri
River; Dubuque end Pacific, and
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul,
in Iowa; st. Joseph and Denver City,
IN Kanses; Grand Rapids aud Indiana;
Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw; Chicago
and Northwestern, in Michigan; Chicago
and Northwestern, in Wisconsin. While
il may be presumed, says the Secretary
that there is but a small amount, IL any of
vacant unappropriated lands within the
idemnity limits OF these roads, the fact
that the Withdrawals still remain in force
render this order rect ssary to final settle
ment of thegrsnts.
Secretary Fairchild has taken adverse
action on proposition to allow the Assist.
ant Treasurer ct CLicsgo to become a men,
Der of the Clearing House Association.
Similar action was previously taken in the
case OF the Assistant Treasurer at st. Louis.
The only Treasury official who is mem.
her of Clearing House Association is the
Assistant Treasurer CT New York, ana the
number.
Arrangements are now being made at
the Treasury Department for the payment
on January /, next, of S. Ala go interest
on United States bonds and Pacific rail-
road bonds. This is in addition to $685.
452 interest, which would have fallen due
that date, but which bias been prepaid with
rebate, under the terms of Department cir
cular No. 30.
In answer 10 q resolution adopted by
the House AZ the close of the last session,
the Secretary of the Treasury to-day sent
TO that body O communication embodY.
ing the results of the inquiry made by the
Supervising InspeotorGeneral Of Steam
Vessels into the methods of constructing
and heating passenger cars and steam
boats, so as to prevent loss OF life and prop
erty by fire. The Secretary says that a Cir
cular was sent out IN February last invit-
| ing suggestions from car-builders and
persons competent to give ipforma-
ton on the subject. Two hundred and
sixteen answers were received, which
were classified IS follows: Twenty-eight
contemplated heating cars by steam from
| the locomotive, u heating by hot air from
| the locomotive, % heating by heat from an
/ independent car. 26 heating and lighting
by electricity, "a heating by improved
/ heaters or stoves in cars, prevention of
! disaster by fire by means of specially
constructed safety cars; / heating and
| lighting by gas, and 81 miscellaneous. The
| Supervising Inspector-General reports.that
many of the plans presented are, in
his judgment theoretically adopted to re-
duce TO the minimum the danger of loss
| of life and property by fire on railroad
cars, yet he is not prepared to say abso.
! lUtely that they are practically so, for the
/ reason that no provision was made in the
resolution OF Congress for the expenses
that would necessarily be incurred in the
| cOOduct Of practical apartments.
The Clerk Of the House has COMPLETED
and laid before that body an index Of
Claims under the Bowman act.
! The total number OF claims re-
| reported 10 Congress. is %, 294, which in
cludes the allowed, disallowed and barred
cases, involving the sum of $50, 25S $50, of
which amount the sum of 81, $50, 920 was
allowed.
Comptroller Trenholm, ex-oficio Com.
missioner of the Freedman's Savings and
/ Trust Company, to-day submitted to the
House of Representatives his annual report
upon that trust, showing a balance on
| hand December 3 of SO, l91. The report
says that under sections l and 2
| of the act Of February Il, 1888, there are
still due 1, 400 claims, amounting to s. 374,
and not paid because no demand has been
| mace ana the WHEREABOUTS OF the Cldlm'
ants are unknown. The available assets,
estimated at IL, Sl7, are considered suf'
| ficient for the payment of these claims
whenever called for and for defraying the
necessary expenses of the ofIice Claims TO
the ndmber of thirty-six, requiring S72l to
pay 62 per cent declared in dividends, have
been presented since the last report, max
ing 142 claims, calling for So 1876 presented
for payment since May -, 1885, but which
are barred by the act of February 81, 1881.
The Commissioner renews the suggestions
contained in his last report concerning the
payment by Congress Of the balance due
deposi tors; submits the draft OF bill for
the purpose, and quotes the recommends
ton that Congress discharge its plain duty
in the matter.
The Secretary of the Interior to day
transmitted to the House the report OF
the commissioners appointed in conjunc-
ton with the Texas State Commission, to
run the line between portion of the In
dian Territory and the State of Texas. The
Commission, through MAJOR Mansfield,
United States Army, the senior member,
reports that it has not vet been able to
effect q settlement of the controversy, the
present condiuon of which is set forth in
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the joint Commission
having done everything possible under the
circumstances ana being unable to proceed
further with the work In hand, do now ad-
journ without day, and that each commits
sion Estate and Federal) make its report to